Jerry Groomes is a seasoned Public Administrator with nearly 40 years of experience in local government. He has worked on the east and west coasts, in big cities and smaller cities; and his contributions have created a major economic development impact in the communities he served.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jerry was the first in his family to attend college. He enrolled in the Community College of Philadelphia, and later received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh.

After working four years in College Administration, Groomes sought to get more involved with his passion – impacting local government. He gained admission to the National Urban Fellowship, a Graduate program that emphasizes a one year mentorship assignment, with academic studies at both Yale University and Occidental College (Ca.). His mentorship assignment was with the City Manager in San Diego, Ca.

Upon completion, Groomes returned to Philadelphia and got involved with a national evaluation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He primarily covered four cities: San Francisco, Ca., Denver Co., Memphis Tn., and Pittsburgh, Pa., assessing the impact of local decision making on their CDBG programs. Collecting all of this experience, he then went back to his home town of Philadelphia and worked for the city’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

After four years, Groomes returned to San Diego where he led the development of two city owned general aviation airports. Five years later he was appointed President of the Southeast Economic Development Corporation, an arm of the San Diego Redevelopment Agency. There he expanded industrial, commercial and residential development, while emphasizing creating local jobs.

Jerry then accepted the position of City Manager in East Palo Alto,Ca., and spent five years spearheading the economic revitalization of the city, implementing significant retail and commercial redevelopment projects that established the foundation for long term economic growth. That experience led to the City Manager opportunity in Carson, Ca., where for thirteen years he directed its economic transformation by developing a wide range of retail, industrial, commercial, residential, public facilities and capital projects. Since retiring from Carson, Groomes worked again with the San Diego Redevelopment Agency, and served as the Interim City Manager for the cities of Bell and Compton.

Groomes has been actively involved as a volunteer with many community serving organizations. In recognition of his professional achievements, an endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Public Administration has been established in his honor at California State University at Dominguez Hills. Jerry lives in Carson with his wife, three children and granddaughter.